Use of suppressive subtractive hybridization and cDNA arrays to discover patterns of altered gene expression in the liver of dihydrotestosterone and 11-ketotestosterone exposed adult male largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)

In this study male largemouth bass (LMB) were exposed to the naturally occurring androgens, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) in order to identify genes that are differentially regulated by these steroid hormones. Using subtractive hybridization on livers of fish treated with DHT against vehicle control, many novel LMB genes were cloned. These genes were added to our gene library and arrayed. Six genes were up-regulated and five were down-regulated by both androgens. But, each androgen also regulated specific genes. One gene that was identified as a potential androgen marker was spermidine-spermine-N¹-acetyltransferase that was up-regulated by both androgens. Determining which genes are responsive to natural androgens will help to identify biochemical pathways that are impacted.     

Über einen ungewöhnlichen Saponit von Raschau i. Sa.

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Winterschneedecke und Gebietsniederschlag 1957/58 und 1958/59 im Bereich des Hintereis- und Kesselwandferners (Ötztaler Alpen)

Zusammenfassung Während des Internationalen Geophysikalischen Jahres und der Internationalen Geophysikalischen Kooperation wurde im Bereich des Hintereis- und Kesselwandferners (Ötztaler Alpen) ein glazialmeteorologisches Forschungsprogramm in vermehrtem Umfang weitergeführt. Der vorliegende Bericht befaßt sich vorwiegend mit dem Problem der Bestimmung des Gebietsniederschlages für das teilweise vergletscherte Einzugsgebiet in den hydrologischen Jahren 1957/58 und 1958/59. Die Ergebnisse der Niederschlagsmessungen mit Totalisatoren für die Periode 1948/49 bis 1960/61 werden kurz dikutiert, wobei besonders eine Zunahme der Winterniederschläge im Gebiet des Hintereisferners während der letzten Jahre bemerkenswert erscheint. Zur Festigung dieses Ergebnisses werden die Untersuchungen der Winterschneedecke besprochen, die seit 1954 systematisch durchgeführt worden sind. Während am Ende des hydrologischen Winterhalbjahres der Inhalt der im unvergletscherten Gelände aufgestellten Totalisatoren mit dem Wasserwert der Schneedecke in der Umgebung im Mittel übereinstimmt, liegt auf den Gletschern ausnahmslos wesentlich mehr Schnee, als von den Totalisatoren in gleicher Höhe gesammelt wurde. Die Großmulden des Geländes, in denen die Gletscher liegen, sind Ablagerungsgebiete für den vom Wind während des Schneefalls und danch umgelagerten Schnee; was den Hängen an Schnee fehlt, liegt auf den Gletschern zuviel. Der kritische Gebietsniederschlag des Winterhalbjahres sollte dem Wasserwert der mittleren Schneedecke des Winterhalbjahres entsprechen. Der Gebietsniederschlag wird für beide untersuchten Jahre nach fünf Methoden berechnet, wobei Methode III und IV die bei den Untersuchungen der Schneedecke gewonnenen Erfahrungen anwendet. Der Gebietsniederschlag für das hydrologische Winterhalbjahr wird für 100-Meter-Stufen zusammengesetzt aus dem von den Totalisatoren gemessenen Wert mit dem Flächenanteil des unvergletscherten Gebiets als Gewicht und dem Wassergehalt der Schneedecke für die vergletscherten Areale des Einzugsgebietes. Für das hydrologische Sommerhalbjahr werden die unkorrigierten Meßwerte der Totalisatoren verwendet. Wegen des Überwiegens von Niederschlag in fester Form im April und Mai dürfte auch im Sommerhalbjahr ein Zuschlag von etwa 5% zu den Meßwerten der Totalisatoren gerechtfertigt sein. Das Ergebnis wird durch direkte Registrierungen des Abflusses und Beobachtungen des Massenhaushaltes der Gletscher (Methode V) überprüft; die Übereinstimmung ist befriedigend. Die mittlere Gebietsverdunstung des Einzugsgebietes (26,6 km², 2981 m mittlere Höhe, –5°C mittlere Jahres-temperatur) dürfte mit 200 mm sehr nahe ihrem oberen Grenzwert sein. Die Meßwerte der Totalisatoren in Höhenlagen oberhalb 2500 m müssen um etwa 20% der Jahressummen erhöht werden, um Übereinstimmung mit Abfluß und Massenhaushalt zu erzielen. Bei etwa 3300 m Höhe kann im Bereich des Hintereisferners mit einem Jahresniederschlag von 2000 mm gerechnet werden.

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Summary During the IGY and the IGC a glacio-meteorological research program was continued on a larger scale in the region of the Hintereis- and Kesselwandferner (ferner=glacier), Oetztal Alps. This report deals mainly with the problem of determining the total precipitation for the partly icecovered drainage area in the hydrological years 1957/58 and 1958/59. The results of the precipitation measurements with totalizators for the period 1948/49 to 1960/61 are briefly discussed, noting particularly an increase of winter precipitation in the region of the Hintereisferner during the last years. In order to confirm this result investigations on the winter snow cover are referred, which were performed systematically since 1954. While at the end of the hydrological winter season the content of the totalizators in the icefree area agrees on an average quite well with the water equivalent of the surrounding snow cover, by far more snow is accumulated on the glaciers than was collected by the totalizators at corresponding levels. The large-scale basins of the terrain, where the glaciers are situated, are regions of accumulation of snow shifted by the wind during and after snowfall; what the slopes lack in snow the glaciers have too much. The critical total precipitation of the winter season should correspond to the water equivalent of the average snow cover of the winter season. The total precipitation is calculated for both years by five methods, whereby methods III and IV apply the experiences gained at investigating the snow cover. The total precipitation for the hydrological winter season is composed for 100 meter-steps of the precipitation measured by the totalizators weighted with the area of the ice-free region, and the water equivalent of the snow cover weighted with the area of the ice-covered region of the drainage area. For the hydrological summer season the uncorrected values of the totalizators are used. As in April and May snowfall predominates, an increase of the precipitation measured with the totalizators by about five per cent should be justified also in the summer season. The result is checked by recording the discharge from and measuring the mass balance of the glaciers (method V); the agreement is satisfying. The total evaporation of the drainage area (26,6 km², 2981 m average height, –5°C mean annual temperature) should not exceed 200 mm of water. The results of the totalizators above 2500 m have to be increased by roughly 20 per cent of the annual amount, if they should agree with discharge and mass balance. At the height of 3300 m an annual precipitation of 2000 mm can be expected in the region of the Hintereisferner.

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Résumé Durant l'Année et la Coopération géophysiques internationales on a mis à exécution un programme étendu de recherches glacio-météorologiques dans les régions du Hintereisferner et du Kesselwandferner (Oetztal, Autriche). Le présent mémoire est consacré essentiellement au problème de la détermination des précipitations régionales d'un bassin versant en partie recouvert de glaciers et cela pour les années hydrologiques 1957/58 et 1958/59. On discute brièvement le résultat des mesures faites au moyen de totalisateurs pour la période allant de 1948/49 à 1960/61. On remarque alors tout spécialement ces dernières années une augmentation des précipitations d'hiver dans le bassin du Hintereisferner. Pour étayer ces résultats, on discute les mesures de la couche de neige en hiver, mesures qui sont effectuées systématiquement depuis 1954. A la fin du semestre d'hiver de l'année hydrologique, le contenu des totalisateurs placés hors de la zone des glaciers correspond en moyenne à la valeur en eau de la couche de neige recouvrant les terrains avoisinants. On rencontre par contre notablement plus de neige sur les glaciers que les totalisateurs placés à la même altitude n'en ont recueilli et cela sans exception. Les grandes dépressions du terrain dans lesquelles se trouvent les glaciers, servent de réceptacles à la neige qui est chassée par le vent soit durant les chutes elles-mêmes soit après. La neige qui fait défaut sur les pentes se retrouve, en surplus, sur les glaciers. Les précipitations régionales critiques du semestre d'hiver devraient correspondre à la valeur en eau de la couche moyenne de neige du même semestre. Les précipitations régionales des deux années en cause sont calculées selon cinq méthodes différentes où les méthodes III et IV utilisent l'expérience acquise lors des recherches effectuées sur la couche de neige. Les précipitations régionales du semestre d'hiver sont obtenues par l'addition des résultats successifs de chaque tranche de 100 m; dans chacune de ces tranches, on a multiplié la surface libre de glace par le contenu correspondant des totalisateurs. On y a ajouté la valeur en eau de la couche de neige des parties de glaciers. Pour le semestre d'été, on utilise les valeurs non corrigées des totalisateurs. Cependant, vu que la plus grande partie des précipitations d'avril, et de mai tombe sous forme de neige, il semble qu'un supplément de 5% aux données des totalisateurs soit justifié pour le semestre d'été également. Les chiffres ainsi obtenus sont contrôlés tant par l'enregistrement du débit des rivières que par l'observation des fluctuations de la masse des glaciers (méthode V); la concordance est alors satisfaisante. L'évaporation annuelle régionale moyenne du bassin versant (26,6 km², altitude moyenne 2981 m, température annuelle moyenne –5°C) peut être estimée à 200 mm au maximum. Les quantités d'eau recueillies par les totalisateurs doivent être augmentées de 20% environ de leur valeur annuelle pour être en concordance avec les calculs de débits et des fluctuations de la masse des glaciers. On peut alors déterminer des précipitations annuelles de 2000 mm à environ 3300 m d'altitude dans le bassin du Hintereisferner.

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Mit 8 Textabbildungen     

Hf-W mineral isochron for Ca,Al-rich inclusions: Age of the solar system and the timing of core formation in planetesimals

Application of ¹⁸²Hf-¹⁸²W chronometry to constrain the duration of early solar system processes requires the precise knowledge of the initial Hf and W isotope compositions of the solar system. To determine these values, we investigated the Hf-W isotopic systematics of bulk samples and mineral separates from several Ca,Al-rich inclusions (CAIs) from the CV3 chondrites Allende and NWA 2364. Most of the investigated CAIs have relative proportions of ¹⁸³W, ¹⁸⁴W, and ¹⁸⁶W that are indistinguishable from those of bulk chondrites and the terrestrial standard. In contrast, one of the investigated Allende CAIs has a lower ¹⁸⁴W/¹⁸³W ratio, most likely reflecting an overabundance of r-process relative to s-process isotopes of W. All other bulk CAIs have similar ¹⁸⁰Hf/¹⁸⁴W and ¹⁸²W/¹⁸⁴W ratios that are elevated relative to average carbonaceous chondrites, probably reflecting Hf-W fractionation in the solar nebula within the first ∼3 Myr. The limited spread in ¹⁸⁰Hf/¹⁸⁴W ratios among the bulk CAIs precludes determination of a CAI whole-rock isochron but the fassaites have high ¹⁸⁰Hf/¹⁸⁴W and radiogenic ¹⁸²W/¹⁸⁴W ratios up to ∼14 ε units higher than the bulk rock. This makes it possible to obtain precise internal Hf-W isochrons for CAIs. There is evidence of disturbed Hf-W systematics in one of the CAIs but all other investigated CAIs show no detectable effects of parent body processes such as alteration and thermal metamorphism. Except for two fractions from one Allende CAI, all fractions from the investigated CAIs plot on a single well-defined isochron, which defines the initial ε¹⁸²W = −3.28 ± 0.12 and ¹⁸²Hf/¹⁸⁰Hf = (9.72 ± 0.44) × 10⁻⁵ at the time of CAI formation. The initial ¹⁸²Hf/¹⁸⁰Hf and ²⁶Al/²⁷Al ratios of the angrites D’Orbigny and Sahara 99555 are consistent with the decay from initial abundances of ¹⁸²Hf and ²⁶Al as measured in CAIs, suggesting that these two nuclides were homogeneously distributed throughout the solar system. However, the uncertainties on the initial ¹⁸²Hf/¹⁸⁰Hf and ²⁶Al/²⁷Al ratios are too large to exclude that some ²⁶Al in CAIs was produced locally by particle irradiation close to an early active Sun. The initial ¹⁸²Hf/¹⁸⁰Hf of CAIs corresponds to an absolute age of 4568.3 ± 0.7 Ma, which may be defined as the age of the solar system. This age is 0.5-2 Myr older than the most precise ²⁰⁷Pb-²⁰⁶Pb age of Efremovka CAI 60, which does not seem to date CAI formation. Tungsten model ages for magmatic iron meteorites, calculated relative to the newly and more precisely defined initial ε¹⁸²W of CAIs, indicate that core formation in their parent bodies occurred in less than ∼1 Myr after CAI formation. This confirms earlier conclusions that the accretion of the parent bodies of magmatic iron meteorites predated chondrule formation and that their differentiation was triggered by heating from decay of abundant ²⁶Al. A more precise dating of core formation in iron meteorite parent bodies requires precise quantification of cosmic-ray effects on W isotopes but this has not been established yet.     

Dem Andenken Emil Dittlers

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Geochemical exploration for gold in the Nile Valley Block (A) area,Wadi Allaqi,South Egypt

The present work aims to estimate Au-anomalous distribution patterns, the optimum grain size fraction and pathfinder elements for gold placer. The obtained data of analyzed elements (Au, Ag, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, Hg, Li, Mn. Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Se, Sr, Te, Ti, V, Y and Zn) in both the fine (?0.25 mm) and coarse (?1 mm+0.25 mm) grain size fractions of 32 dry stream sediment samples, which have been derived from metamorphosed Island Arc volcanic rocks of Late Proterozoic age, revealed that most of the analyzed elements in both grain size fractions are asymmetrically distributed and did not pass the tests of normality. The coarse grain size fraction appears to be the better size fraction for Au detection and can be considered as the optimum grain size fraction for future application in regional stream sediment surveys. The presence of Au anomalies in the upper part of the stream and beside the mine is either sourced by the main Au-mineralization or new potential extension of the mineralization in the study area. Silver, Cd, Se, Zn and Te can be considered as useful pathfinder elements for Au in the coarse grain size fraction, and they may be used for future geochemical exploration for Au in the area. Recommendation of the authors is pointing to perform lithogeochemical survey in the eastern and western parts of the mine.     

Magnetometer survey of the proposed Sirente meteorite crater field,central Italy: Evidence for uplifted crater rims and buried meteorites

Abstract— The Sirente crater field consists of a 120 m wide, rimmed main depression flanked to the northwest by about 30 smaller depressions. It has been dated to the first centuries A.D. An impact origin is suggested, but not confirmed. The small size combined with the properties of the target material (carbonate mud) would neither allow shock features diagnostic of impact, nor projectile vaporization. Consequently, a meteoritic component in the sediments would be very localized. At impacts of this size the projectile most likely is an iron meteorite. Any iron meteorites on the ground surface would, in Iron Age Europe, have been removed shortly after the event. However, if the depressions are of impact origin they should contain meteorites at great depth in analogy with known craters. The magnetic properties of iron meteorites differ distinctly from the very low magnetic sediments and sedimentary rocks of the Sirente area. We have used a proton precession magnetometer/gradiometer to produce magnetic anomaly maps over four of the smaller depressions (～8 m diameter), as well as two crossing profiles over a fifth depression (～22 m diameter). All show distinct magnetic anomalies of about 20 nT, the larger depression up to 100 nT. Magnetic modeling shows a best fit for structures with upturned strata below their rims, excluding a karstic origin but supporting an explosive formation. The 100 nT anomaly can only be explained by highly‐magnetic objects at a few meters depth. All together, the magnetic data provides a strong indication for an impact origin of the crater field.